An incident : Junaid Baghdadi Rahmatullahi alaih saw a handsome young man, fair in complexion and neatly dressed, begging in the masjid. The thought came to Junaid Rahmatullahi alaih : “ A healthy young man and wearing a good set of clothes and yet he is begging?” That night Junaid Baghdadi Rahmatullahi alaih had a remarkable dream. ( One notes that persons in the class of such people are corrected very quickly by Allah Ta’Ala) In the dream he saw a man approaching him and saying: “ Eat this meat!” He placed in front of Junaid Baghdadi Rahmatullahi alaih a dead body.
Junaid : “ But this is a corpse! To eat it is haram !”
Person : “Oh yes! To eat this is haram! But when you where eating the flesh of your dead Muslim brother, was that not haram?”
Junaid : “ I never did such a foul thing”>
Person : “ Oh no? Let me ask you: Does the Quraan Shareef not state that one should not make ghibat: ` Would any of you love to eat the flesh of your dead brother?`”
Junaid : “ Yes the Quraan Shareef has stated thus.”
Person ; ‘ Well then you have eaten!”
Junaid : “ When did I do so?”
Person : “ When you saw the young man begging, you brought the thought into your heart:` A young handsome man, fit and healthy, yet begging!` Did you imagine ghibat is only when you relate a person`s fault to others and when you think of the faults of others it is not ghibat? You deliberately brought his fault to mind.”
The persons remarks had the desired effect. Junaid Baghdadi`s Rahmatullahi alaih heart was in turmoil and in this anxious state his eyes opened from sleep. He got up, put on his clothes and went out in search of the youth to ask his forgiveness.
It has to be pointed out here that this compulsion of Junaid Baghdadi`s Rahmatullahi alaih to set out in search of the youth to get his pardon was a special state related to Junids elevated status. Where the opposite party is not aware, taubah is sufficient.
Approaching the river, Junaid saw a young man strolling along the river bank and recognized him as the same youth he had seen in the masjid. Junaid greeted him: “ Assalaamu Alaikum .” The youth replied: “ Wa alaikum salaam.” Without a pause, the youth continued: “ Having seen a dream you have now come to ask for forgiveness! Without investigating, you jumped to conclusions: ` A fit young man, dressed in neat white clothes and begging!` You should, at least, have verified the facts first! How many days have I not spent without food! In spite of searching for work, I found no means. It is not permissible, under any circumstances, for me to ask? As for these clothes that you see me wearing, they were handed to me just this morning. Seeing externals only, you jumped to conclusions!”
Who is saying all this? The youth! He is not just anybody. He was one who had some rank! It just goes to show that it is not only old people who attain high spiritual rank. Nay. This youth had also reached an elevated stage, through Ibaadat, taqwa, zikrullah, abstention from sin and talluqm`Allah Ta’ala.
The youth further addressed Junaid Baghdadi Rahmatullahi alaih: “ I had thought that you had attained a very high elevated rank but it appears that you still have some deficiency!”
The youth was addressing whom? Junaid Baghdadi Rahmatullahi alaih – one of our foremost masha`ikh! Do not misunderstand. Do not conclude that this act of Junaids in any way lowered his rank. No. This was a detail, a fine point which had to be brought to his notice to enable him to progress even higher. This was his islah at the pinnacle that he already was on, to enable him to move onto a higher pinnacle. The above point should be well remembered. Students often get confused.
